Beauty Blog
I started my blog as a creative outlet but somehow ended up doing reviews at the expense of creativity, probably because getting creative is so time consuming! I’ve decided that I would try a different approach to my reviews so let me know if you like it.
Continue reading “Lancôme Grandiose Mascara vs L’Oréal Telescopic Extra-Black/Carbon Black Mascara”
After wearing my Makeup Revolution Awesome Metals Foil Finish eyeshadow in Magnificent Copper all day, I decided to smoke it up for the evening. I used my Makeup Revolution Awesome Eyeshadow and Eyebrow palette in Disappear til tomorrow.
Rather than use the dedicated eyeshadows, I used the light brow shade, the one to highlight, from the crease of my eyes up to my browbone using the supplied sponge applicator. I then used the other side of the sponge applicator to apply the dark brown colour, the one to fill in the brows, to the crease of my eyes. I blended the colour with my fingers. I’m usually strictly a brush person but it had been a long day and I didn’t want to stand up! The blending would have been much better with a brush.
I lined my lower lash line with the sparkly black shade using the included eyeliner brush, which could also be used to define the brows.
I am also wearing Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara.
There you have it, a very quick and easy way to take your makeup from day to night.
When traveling I want to be prepared for anything and skincare is no exception. On my recent holiday to the hot and humid Caribbean, I had to carefully pick products that were small enough to fit into the little plastic hand luggage bag for liquids, keep me hydrated during the 9 hour journey then protect me from the sun when I eventually landed. I also needed a product which would cleanse and effortlessly remove make-up in one to keep the luggage weight down.
Firstly, to deal with the skin dehydration I packed a mini Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Night Cream for Normal/Dry skin which I applied several times during the flight. Every application felt like I was splashing cool water on my face – refreshing and moisturising! For my eyes I used Boots No7 Beautiful Skin Overnight Revitalising Eye Balm, again very hydrating and I was so glad this was the eye product I packed. Finally, for my lips, only the original Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream would do. It calls itself a skin protectant and that’s exactly what it does.
For sun protection once I landed I had Ultrasun SPF30 for the face as well as Boots Soltan Protect and Moisturise for Face in SPF30. I don’t know why I packed both! I like Soltan as it protects from UVA and UVB rays. I also need my sun cream to moisturise my dry skin. I chose SPF30 as I already have a little built in sun protection but it still important to protect against burning. To protect my lips I used Soltan Moisturising Suncare Stick in SPF30 and for my eyes I used No7 Shimmering Lip & Eye Screen in SPF30. I believe the Lip & Eye screen was new for this year which was great as I have been searching everywhere for a reasonably priced eye protectant with an appropriate SPF. Usually eye cream will come with and SPF of 15, if at all and this simply is not good enough for such a delicate area!
Finally, to cleanse and remove make-up, my product of choice was a mini DHC Deep Cleansing Oil which I got though a couple of beauty boxes. No need to pack cotton wool and take up precious suitcase space.
So, there you have my affordable skin travel kit! What’s in yours?
I wanted to try the matte pink eye trend as seen on Jourdan Dunn but I don’t have any matte pink eyeshadows! I could have used blusher I guess. Maybe I’ll try that next as I have a really pretty pink blush from Bobbi Brown.
If you follow me on Instagram you would have seen a couple of pictures of my face and my outfit which inspired the make-up.
This is what I used:
Face
Eyes
Lips
I wanted to keep a bright and fresh spring look so I didn’t use topliner or blend the brown eyeshadow out to make it smoky eye.
Today I went to the Chocolate Festival in London. It is a few hours of tasting chocolate and chocolate products which you can buy and there was also the added treat of the Cocoa Spa. At the Cocoa Spa you could get a chocolate themed hand massage or chocolate inspired professionally applied eye make-up. Naturally, I wanted to have my eyes done professionally, especially as it was free of charge! I was booked in with Elizabeth Rita, who is a professional hair and make-up artist who does weddings, celebrities and editorial work. I still think it’s a bit surreal that I had my make-up done by a MUA for Britain’s Got Talent!
I didn’t do much research before attending the Chocolate Festival however I was aware there would be something to do with make-up so I left the house wearing as little as I thought I could get away with. I was wearing: Clinique all about eyes concealer in deep honey, Clinique even better compact make-up in sand, Bobbi Brown Illuminating Finish Powder Compact Foundation in Honey on my nose to deal with shine, Seventeen Instant Glow Gold Bronze Shimmer Brick as a blusher, Benecos natural kajal in black on the top lashline and e.l.f. Matte Lip Color in praline.
Now on to the makeover! From what I can remember, Elizabeth used:
More products were used but I was trying to enjoy the experience!
Whilst the eyeliner was drying Elizabeth did my brows – a nice added extra. She was even kind enough to compliment my nails (Barry M Nail Paint in Mint Green)!
How completely gorgeous is this look? Thank you Elizabeth! The last day of the Chocolate Festival is tomorrow, 13th April if you want a few hours of chocolate and make-up in one!
Check out my Instagram (@tashasface) for more photos – sorry I can’t link at the moment as Instagram is currently broken! (Instagram is now fixed so you can see my nail colour.)
I received a few goodies from magazines which I think is a great way to try out products without spending a fortune and feeling like you’ve wasted money. If you don’t like the product, at least you have the magazine! I only buy magazines I know I’ll like – there’s no point in double disappointment.
First I received a tube of Goji Berry lip gloss from Neal’s Yard Remedies. This was in Marie Claire magazine. It claims to smooth and protect and is made with organic orange oil and white tea. Sounds yummy!
Glamour Magazine was offering a selection of Model Co products (as well as 25% off in H&M) and my copy had a “Lip Enhancer Illusion Lip Liner”. It’s a nude lip liner which claims to suit all skin tones. The box says it helps to create the perfect pout giving the illusion of naturally fuller lips. It has a sharpener in the lid which is pretty handy!
Finally, on subscribing to Elle magazine, I received three full-size Elizabeth Arden Products. I now have a tube of 8 Hour Cream which I have used before so I’m glad I received it again. It is a skin protectant and has a wide range of uses. Although it is technically skincare, it’s great make-up as well. Do you remember the glossy eyelid trend? That is where you use 8 Hour Cream! It also says you can use it to shape brows.
The actual make up came in the form of Beautiful Color Moisturizing Lipstick in Red Door Red 02 which is an amazing true red in stunning gold and silver signature red door packaging. It’s simply too beautiful to use-I just like to look at it and hold it! I also received a full size Beautiful Color Lash Enhancing mascara in black 01.
Did anyone else get make-up from magazines this month? Did you collect all of the Model Co products from Glamour? I would try but I’m on a cosmetics spending ban for lent!
I love the idea of cleansing my face with water that has a little something extra. This L’Oreal Skin Perfection Purifying 3 in 1 Micellar Solution is great.
It easily removes make-up leaving my skin feeling very clean and not the slightest bit dry. It even takes off eye make-up although I haven’t tried it with waterproof mascara. I love the fact this is gentle enough to use on the lips. Before I bought this, I used eye make-up remover on my lips!
As it is a water, it is refreshing and the micellar bit dissolves the make-up, which tap water simply doesn’t do. After cleansing, I do feel like I’ve splashed my face with water without suffering from the drying effect.
The only thing that could be better is the bottle. The rectangle looks nice but it is not practical so when I’m pouring out the cleansing water, it spills! It’s just a bit awkward to control.
Other than that, I definitely like!
I had several reasons for creating this look. I was going to a friend’s birthday party and I wanted to look like I had made an effort, but not over the top. It was fairly casual. I was wearing a lime green Zara top with black American Apparel high-waist nylon tricot leggings so I had to make sure my make-up didn’t clash.
I had also just bought Maybelline Color Tattoos, Soap & Glory kohl pencils and I had received a HD brows palette in the Latest in Beauty Glamour Edit box and I wanted to try them all out. This look is quite simple:
Face
Eyes
Lips
I used these together as I wanted glossy lips that were not too orange or too pink.
Voila!
